BULB ONION PRODUCERS Receive Minor Use Registration for AGRI-MEK® Insecticide for control of ONION THRIPS

The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the approval of a minor use registration for AGRI-MEK® (abamectin) insecticide/miticide for control of onion thrips on the bulb onion subgroup, crop group 3-07A. The bulb onion crop subgroup includes dry bulb onions, garlic, shallots, pearl onions, fritillaria and other specialty bulb vegetables. The active ingredient abamectin was already labeled in Canada for control of mites and other insects on pome fruit, strawberries, caneberries, grapes, greenhouse ornamentals, greenhouse peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes.

Onion thrips are one of the most common, damaging pests of bulb vegetables in North America and have been the subject of several emergency use registrations. Furthermore, thrips are very susceptible to the development of resistance to pest control products and all available, effective and safe materials need to be available to producers.

This minor use label expansion project was initiated in 2010 by the minor use office of OMAFRA in response to minor use priorities identified by producers. The following is provided as an abbreviated, general outline only. Users should consult the complete label before using Agri-mek® insecticide/miticide.

AGRI-MEK® insecticide/miticide can be used for control of onion thrips on bulb onion subgroup crops at a rate of 600 – 1,200 mL product per hectare in combination with a non-ionic surfactant at a rate of 0.25 – 0.5% v/v. Use Agri-mek® in a minimum of 200 L water per hectare with a 30 day pre-harvest interval. Apply AGRI-MEK® when thrips first appear and apply subsequent applications if monitoring indicates it is necessary at a minimum 7 day interval. Do not apply more than 3 applications per year.

Follow all other precautions and directions for use on the AGRI-MEK® insecticide/miticide label carefully.

AGRI-MEK® insecticide/miticide should be used in an IPM program and in rotation with other management strategies to adequately manage resistance.

We wish to acknowledge the personnel Syngenta Crop Protection Canada for their support of this registration and the personnel of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency for evaluating and approving this important pest management tool.